Chamberlayne College for the Arts has begun a vast transformation that will result in its teaching and learning facilities being brought up to the standard of other Southampton schools. It will also launch as Weston Secondary School in January 2022.
The £5.5 million is being spent on the refurbishment of the entire school and many of its new facilities will be available to the local community. The development work includes:
-
Construction of a new four-court sized Sports Hall with changing rooms
-
New-look School Gym and changing rooms
-
Tiered seating added to the School Hall for spectator events
-
Two new science classrooms
-
New library
-
Improvements to the IT infrastructure
-
Vast majority of classrooms updated and re-decorated
-
Repairs to the school roof, facades and windows
-
New lift to enhance accessibility
-
Re-modelled school entrance
-
Enhancements to school signage and landscaping
“It’s an exciting time for the whole school community and lots of positive change is coming,” said Stuart Wilkinson, Interim Headteacher at Chamberlayne College for the Arts. “The school has been on the site since the 1950s and for the first time, we’re seeing significant investment that’ll transform the school’s learning environment and create impressive new facilities to make it a top choice for many families in the area.
“The building work also enables the school to offer better facilities for our local community in search of a venue for sports and leisure activities. We’re all looking forward to a bright new future as Weston Secondary School.”
The school has also recently become an academy and joined Hamwic Education Trust, based in Southampton and one of the largest multi-academy trusts in the South of England. As part of this the school also joins with Weston Shore Infant School and Weston Park Primary School to form a ‘community of schools’ known as Weston Schools Federation.
Bob Farmer, CEO at Hamwic Education Trust said: “I’m delighted to welcome Weston Secondary to Hamwic Education Trust and to it joining our community of schools in Weston. We already include Weston Shore Infant and Weston Park Primary in our family of schools and bringing the three schools together reflects how we are linking the education journey of our pupils.”
The building work at Chamberlayne College for the Arts is due to be completed by April 2023. It becomes Weston Secondary School in January 2022, and at that point all of three schools launch their new logos and school websites.
